Gore Vidal, celebrated author, playwright, dies at 86

re:

We have lost a witty and eloquent voice of anti-establishment ideas and views. He was a charming speaker and great writer. Everyone should read at least one of his books-fiction or nonfiction. All of us old enough to remember the Buckley outburst-let's have a good laugh! Oh look righties-he served in the military.

re: Gore Vidal, celebrated author, playwright, dies at 86

by drc2

Aug. 2, 2012 9:21 am

I think you would discover that many of us share an affinity with Vidal for a jaundiced view of heroes as well as the pieties of villains. Having read the historical series beginning with Burr avidly, I found it far from "fiction" in its core narrative. Gore was an insider with many reasons not to be duped by "greatness" or celebrity. He had "access," but he also had an active and inquisitive mind as well as a ton of writing talent.

I also found his essays on America up there with the best.

And his confrontations with American cultural attitudes about sex and gender. Just part of being a very relevant human being.